Said Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens: “I think he’s one of the best in his rookie class.”

Only 45 games into his pro career, Carter-Williams has achieved plenty. He was the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the first week of the regular season. He was the East’s Rookie of the Month in November. And he’s leading all rookies in scoring, rebounds and assists.

Now comes the challenge of juggling a weekend of rest versus invaluable experience. Carter-Williams, who averages 35 minutes per game, would have had six days between games over All-Star break. Instead, he will be in New Orleans for a weekend of league-wide festivities.

“It’s a Mardi Gras. It’s a circus. It’s no time for rest,” Brown said, “and Michael won’t experience any rest. I wish he could. But on the flipside, I’m proud of him and I want him to enjoy this experience.”

Evan Turner played in the Rising Stars Challenge in 2012, though rest wasn’t a premium for him. Back then, he was averaging 26 minutes per game.

“You’ve got to think, man. I had nothing but rest. I was part-time,” Turner said. “I took full advantage of playing freely (in the Rising Stars game). I needed that. I would’ve played three more games if they would’ve let me.

“But you want to experience that. You’re young. It gets you excited and intrigued to experience something like that. Then you have a (Kevin Garnett) in that, and after the 13th All-Star Game, it gets a little tiring. MCW will be fine. I’m sad Tony couldn’t make it, but (Carter-Williams) will represent well.”

Speaking of Wroten, the Sixers’ sixth man felt let out when he learned he didn’t make the cut.

“Politics. I know I should’ve made it. It is what it is, you know? Just adds fuel to the fire.”

“Check the stats, man. I definitely should’ve played in it,” Wroten said. “Nothing against the people who made it. Congrats to everybody who did make it. I definitely got snubbed, but (it’s) just motivation.”

***

Whether as a starter or off the bench, Hollis Thompson seems to have found a foothold with the Sixers. He’s also excelling league-wide. Thompson entered Wednesday leading all rookies in field-goal percentage, shooting 48.1 percent.

Brown lauded Billy Lange, his assistant coach for player development, for monitoring Thompson closely. Lange, the former Villanova assistant, said improving Thompson’s shooting efficiency started with the Georgetown product’s feet. Lange said he has broken down gametape, making sure Thompson always catches the ball with the same foot placement on the floor.

“His release has never been the problem,” Lange said. “…Now, (Thompson) is putting it all together.”

***

It’s been 613 days since the Sixers fell to the Celtics in a seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series.

“It feels,” Thaddeus Young said, “like it was just yesterday.”

And since then?

“New year, new teams, different players,” Young added. “Things have changed over the course of time. Now we go into a situation where we’re both losing teams and just going out there, trying to battle for wins.”

***

Their last time out, the Sixers were whistled for three technical fouls. A lack of discipline combined with active mouths contributed to that, Brown said.

“We’re not all Boy Scouts,” he said. “I don’t mind when our guys fight, but … it gets old and it’s not the message we want to send. Not to young players and not to our fans. We have to learn to get through things. It’s not all bad, but it’s definitely not all good.”